Here’s something else that will eventually be launching from India.  As some background, India does plan on sending humans to space by 2022 on their own rockets.  Rather than send up animal proxies first, India has decided to take advantage of technology and have created their very own robot astronaut.

Last week at the Human Spaceflight and Exploration symposium the Indian Space Research Organization presented Vyomamitra, a female-presenting half-humanoid robot.  She’s considered half-humanoid because she has no legs, but considering that she’ll be strapped into a seat for flight tests, that really isn’t a problem. During a press conference, Vyomamitra shared that she can monitor sensors, manipulate controls, recognize and respond to human astronauts, and even act as a companion to other spacefarers.  My Nation goes on to report that she can speak two languages.

Not For Women Only with @sunitaiyer | All you need to know about #Vyomamitra, @isro Lady Robot to be sent to space in unmanned #Gaganyaan#Vyommitra #Bengaluru @Gaganyaan_Isro @PMOIndia @narendramodi @India_inSpace @IndiaDST @drharshvardhan @yschowdary @PrinSciAdvOff @Ashutos61 pic.twitter.com/j1vtXWW5XW

— MyNation (@MyNation) January 23, 2020

See what indian news papers write about this:

• Meet Vyommitra, the robot ISRO is sending to space (The Indian Express) https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/meet-vyomamitra-the-robot-isro-is-sending-to-space-6230242/
• Gaganyaan mission: Meet Vyommitra, the talking human robot that Isro will send to space (India Today) https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/gaganyaan-vyommitra-talking-humanoid-isro-space-1639077-2020-01-22